In this episode, we talk with Lora Cover, a member of the School Board for the Shaker Heights School District. I asked Lora to take us on the journey of how the Shaker Heights school board went from considering the issues associated with the school buildings' infrastructure to determining that the right course of action was to propose a levy on Shaker Heights citizens.

In this discussion, Lora covers a lot of ground, from how the needs were assessed, how community input was obtained, how the Board evaluated various options, and how -- and why -- the Board chose to engage with the Ohio Facility Construction Commission.

Lora addresses a number of issues raised in social media and by the League of Women Voters including:

• How can citizens be sure that the money allocated for this capital campaign will be spent according to the plans?
• What kind of due diligence was done by the Board and the OFCC to determine that Shaker Schools even needed the kind of work that is being proposed?
• What body of the Board has reviewed the plans to ensure that they are financially sound?
• How has the Board obtained community input for this levy?
• What options were considered before the final recommendation was chosen?
• How has the Board communicated its process, decision points, financial analysis, to the public?

This one hour discussion goes to the heart of many concerns raised by Shaker Heights citizens.

This podcast is hosted and produced by Mark Goode, a resident of Shaker Heights, on behalf of the Committee for Shaker Schools, a grassroots, citizen-based campaign organization that works to help pass Shaker Heights City School District levies and bond issues. The committee's primary mission is to inform voters about upcoming school levies and bond issues and to direct efforts toward ensuring their passage.